Winderman's view: Heat 97, Rockets 88

-- LeBron James stood alone for extended stretches, but, as always, fought the good fight.

-- As did Chandler Parsons, who matched him point for point, rebound for rebound through three quarters.

-- But, uh, LeBron is better.

-- Parsons was the best ex-Gator out there, with Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller off with their shots.

-- Haslem, though, again crashed the boards.

-- And Miller made a huge late 3-pointer.

-- The Heat came out of halftime huddle and first thing James Jones has to do was tell Dexter Pittman that he was lined up on the wrong side of the offensive set.

-- The most encouraging aspect of the Heat's recent overall uneven play has been the reemergence of Miller as a factor.

-- That matters, because Miller will play in the playoffs. Jones won't.

-- With 4:51 to play in the second quarter, Joel Anthony had already matched his season high of four baskets in a game. A regular scoring machine.

-- Anthony played well. It will be curious to see if Ronny Turiaf regains a spot in the rotation upon his return from his current hamstring injury.

-- Juwan Howard was called for a rare five-second isolation offense violation in the second quarter. Such is what can happen when he's the second unit's go-to scorer.

-- It was the 1,199th career appearance for Howard.

-- Just an odd time of the season when the pregame injury report ultimately is the most significant moment of the night.

-- Nonetheless, Erik Spoelstra was still coaching like it mattered, bellowing to his players, down 18-8, "What are we doing?!"

-- Norris Cole took three shots in the first 2 1/2 minutes. No other Heat player with more than one to that stage.

-- Cole too often attempts to play at a speed that is too fast for even him.

-- LeBron James gave Cole the "Mario Chalmers look" since Chalmers was not available, with Cole zigging when LeBron wanted a zag in the second quarter.

-- Spoelstra, on Chris Bosh's absence, "It was muscle fatigue in his legs, and we wanted to make sure we were proactive with it, to make sure it didn't turn into something more." So dead legs it is.

-- Despite the lack of recent continuity, Spoelstra insists, "We feel as comfortable as we have all season long with our rotation."

-- The Heat said flu symptoms for Chalmers were the reason Norris Cole was in the starting lineup. Considering the weather in Boston and Washington is atrocious, have to wonder about him traveling for final two games.

-- And let's just say the flu is a factor for Chalmers in the playoffs, why exactly wouldn't you want an extra point guard on the roster, just in case?

-- Spoelstra acknowledged "delicate balance" with lineups, saying pregame, "Coaching staffs secretly hope you are playing for something, because it takes the decision-making out of it. We have to weigh a lot of different variables, and I am doing that every single day."

-- Howard thanked the fans before the Heat's final home game, "for being the best fans in the NBA. And we ask that you please come back for our playoff run, so we bring that title back to Miami."

-- Later, Wade addressed the fans from the video board.

-- James, who was being stretched in the locker room at the time, on Ron Artest/Metta World Peace's elbow to James Harden, "That's the craziest s--t I've ever seen."